Prices of Chinese New Year delicacies shoot up, will increase further

FAMILIES planning to entertain with must-have delicacies and goodies this Chinese New Year should start shopping now - or pay even higher prices later.

A Straits Times check with a dozen stores in Chinatown and Kallang has found that prices of abalone, fish maw, dried scallops, dried sea cucumber, pineapple tarts and mandarin oranges have already risen by up to 30 per cent, compared with the same pre-festival period last year.

The bad news: Importers and wholesalers said the prices of most of these items are likely to rise by at least another 10 per cent as the festive period draws closer. The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on Feb 10 this year.

At Sar Mooi Long, a dried goods store at Victoria Wholesale Centre, fish maw is going for $400 per kg, up from $300 last year. At neighbouring store Guan Say, 255g cans of abalone (drained weight) are priced at $158 each, up 30 per cent.